Ella

It's been a year and a half since the incident happened.

Ten months ago, Queen Dawn Gave birth. They finally have an heir. We've been tasked with babysitting him these past ten months. We'll just consider it training for our future job here once we turn sixteen. With my sister by my side, we could do anything.

I have more great news; we finally learned how to control our powers. Now we can use them whenever we'd like!

Stella learned how to control her power, and then I did.

Mom brought us to work today.

She got on her horse, and Stella and I trailed behind her. We don't have horses of our own yet, but that's fine. The walk will help us with our exercise and move rings on our Apple Watches. We always close our rings now that we visit the castle more often.

We got to the castle by 9:00 am. Mom went to the stables to put up her horse while Stella and I went straight to our hangout area. The room they built just for us a year and a half ago.

Occasionally we'll see Sasha, working around the castle. But she doesn't bother us or say anything.

Sasha

I wore my maid attire, my black and white dress, with black boots. My raven black hair was tied back. I didn't wear make-up because we weren't allowed to when we worked. Who the hell made up that rule? I might apply a little foundation, but that's about it.

Even after working here for a year and a half, people still judge me. They stare at me, talk about what I did, they don't think I can hear them, but I do.

I hear.

Every.

Single.

Thing.

They say about me.

And it infuriates me, and they talk about me like I'm not even there. They're too comfortable around me. I understand why. I'm no longer considered a threat, at least not without my powers.

I've done nothing to further their suspicions about me. I'm tired of trying to ignore it because I can't.

I've had thoughts about quitting. But if I do, they'll banish me not only from the Kingdom of Miradon but also from the forest behind it where my cottage lies.

I would have to travel East. Towards the vampire Kingdom, Raven Field. Luckily there is a forest between the wolf and vampire kingdoms. But they are at war with each other, and I do not want to be caught in the crossfire. But I've heard stories about the vampire Kingdom, and they are not as merciful as Queen Dawn and King Toby. I mess up once there, and they'll kill me.

Burn me at stake.

So my only option is to stay here and keep taking the verbal abuse.

Every time they talk about me. It makes me so angry, I want to show them what I can do, and maybe they'll stop talking about me. Because they'll be too scared of me to do anything, but I can't because my power is gone. Not forever, but gone until I figure out how to get it back.

Without my powers, I have no power.

I think that's the problem; they aren't scared of me anymore because I don't have my powers.

It's been a year and a half since I lost it. I've tried for a while, but I don't seem to have any luck. Plus, I work six days a week—every day except Sunday. I enjoy my Sundays.

I'm proud of myself, and I made so much money, I was able to buy myself a horse. A black horse named Raven, and I love him. I was also able to upgrade my old furniture and buy more leather clothes. So it's been great.

About my power, I have an idea on who can help me get it back.

As soon as I got off of work, I was out of there. I got on my horse Raven and headed home. Then I got an idea to text Sky to come over. I changed clothes first. I put on a blue jacket, blue leather pants, and blue leather boots. I put on black lipstick, black eyeliner, and foundation. I wore my black straight hair out and rocked my usual bangs.

Sky lives in the forest that is between the vampire and the wolf Kingdom. So it would take her an hour to get here.

So I pulled out my iPhone eight and texted Sky. She knows a lot about rituals and summoning powers back.

3:00 pm
Sasha: Hey Sky! It's been so long since we've linked up. Do you want to come over and hang?

I made myself some food as I waited for a reply. I heard my phone buzz as I took my rice out of the microwave.

I set my phone and plate on the table and sat down. I began to eat my rice as I replied to the text she sent.

3:02 pm
Sky: OMG! Hey Sasha! You're right, it has been a while since we've last hung out. I'm coming over right now. See you in an hour!

I'm glad she agreed to come over. This is good. She can help me get my power back. I replied to her text.

3:03 pm
Sasha: Can't wait for you to get here. Safe travels!

After I finished eating, I took a nap.

An hour later, I woke up to knocking on my door. Then I heard my phone ring.

Sky's name and picture appeared on the screen. I got up from my bed, answered the phone. I fixed my hair and touched up my makeup real quick.

"Hey, Sasha. I'm right outside your cottage. Which looks way different than it did the last time I came to visit you. It looks different in a good way. Nice."

"Thanks, wow, you got here fast!" After I looked somewhat presentable, I walked over to open the door.

"I sure did. Anything for a friend! Are you going to let me in?" She asked.

"Yes," I said, opening the door. "Sorry, I was sleeping when you called."

She hung up the phone and hugged me. "No worries. Ahh! I've missed you! Sorry, we haven't hung out in a long time. I've just been so busy."

I let her come in. We sat down in the living room.

Sky had straight blonde hair that went to her shoulders, blue eyes, and pale skin. Her blonde hair was in two pigtails, but she rocked them. She had on some foundation and Smokey eyeliner. She wore a red leather jacket, a red leather skirt, and red leather boots.

"So, what's up with you?" Sky asked.

"I have so much stuff I need to get off my chest. I'm just going to start with this. I want to quit my job."

"You should. Are they treating you bad?"

"Not my bosses, but my coworkers are. They talk about me, and I hear everything they say. But I'm making money. If I quit, they'll banish me from the kingdom of Miradon and the forest.

"If it were me, I would've quit already. It's alright if you want to quit, you can just come to stay with me." She smiled.

"Thanks. I'll think about it. It's amazing how you been living in the forest, right between two kingdoms at war." I mentioned.

"They don't bother me as long as I don't bother them." She explained.

I nodded. "Maybe I could move in with you. If I decide to quit my job." Now I was considering it.

"You should quit, but whatever you decide, we'll still be friends. Just think about it and let me know." She said, being super supportive.

"I will. I have a second issue we need to talk about." So I told Sky what happened a year and a half ago.

"That's horrible. My powers haven't done that, so I can't even imagine how bad that was for you. But you did what you had to do. You need your powers back. You've had them all your life; you're reliant on them, for them to just be taken from you, that's not right."

"I know!" Finally, someone who understands me. "Your lucky because your powers won't ever weaken. The Zodiac power gets their power from the stars."

"I can help you get them back. And here's the best part, once you do, they'll be stronger than ever. Every time you lose your powers and then get them back, they come back stronger, and you'll have a few new abilities."

"That's great, and thank you for doing this," I said sincerely.

"Anything for a friend." She smiled.

Sky did the ritual to summon my powers back, and it was successful. I thanked her a million times.

After that, I offered her some food to eat, which she gladly accepted, and we talked. I told her about how my life and work were. She'd talk about what she had been doing for the last five years. She told me I could visit her anytime as long as I asked in advance.

I've missed this, talking to her. It made me happy, and it was nice to have a friend.

We talked till two in the morning.

I told her she could stay the night. But she said she would be alright to go home. So we said goodbye, and I let her go back to her house.

I knew I was not going to be able to get to work on time. So when my alarm went off at five-thirty, I turned it off and went back to bed.

By the time I made it, it was nine-fifteen. I was two hours and fifteen minutes late. Great.

I sped walked to the kitchen; on the way there; I ran into someone.

"I'm sorry." I looked up to see King Toby.

Just my freaking luck!

I bowed. "Lord, Toby."

"Sasha, you're late." He said curtly.

"I know," I put my head down.

"You'll stay the usual eight hours and one extra hour to make up for the lost time." He ordered.

"Yes, sir."

He walked away.

I don't know what came over me, but I was infuriated. I clenched my fists turned around, stood up taller, and said, "No."

There's no going back now.

I shouldn't have to stay an extra hour; I'm tired of this bullshit!

King Toby stopped walking. "What?" He turned around to face me in dismay.

"You heard me." I took a step closer. "I. Said. 'No."

Something familiar flashed in his eyes, fear.

It's been so long since I've seen fear in someone's eyes, too long.

Before he could reply, I said. "I quit! Don't worry about me not leaving. I'll be out of here before the sun sets." I stormed off.

That. Felt. Good.

I shot sky a text as I walked through the castle corridors.

9:25 am
Sasha: Hey Sky, I just quit my job, and I need a place to stay. Is it okay if I stay with you?

I left the castle and walked over to the stables. That's when my phone buzzed.

9:30 am
Sky: Yes, Thanks for letting me know in advance. You finally quit that job! I'm so proud of you! I'll have a room ready for you when you get here. Safe travels!

I smiled. Sky always had my back. I responded to her text.

9:31 am
Sasha: Thanks, Sky, you're a real one. I can't wait to get there!

I got Raven saddled up, then got on him. I headed to my cottage, riding at full speed.

King Toby

I stormed into the dining room, where my wife was.

"That Witch just quit!" I said, furious. "We can't control her anymore!"

"Calm down, honey, just tell me what happened."

"I will. I need to send some guards out. Maybe they can catch her at her cottage before she leaves. Will someone go fetch Carlos!" I shouted at the maids. One left quickly to get him. "She cannot go into the Raven Field once she does. We won't be able to get her, not without starting a war at least."

So I explained to Dawn what happened while I waited for Carlos to get here.

Carlos entered the room and bowed. I gave him instructions to gather his best guards, go to Sasha's cottage.

"If she not there, head east, towards Raven Field. You'll have to get her before she crosses the border into vampire territory. Or we won't be able to get her. If that happens, you go back to her cottage, and you burn it down. Suppose you do happen to catch her. Bring her here, put her in a cell and keep her under guard."

"Yes, Lord, anything else?"

"Yes, use whatever force necessary, and good luck."

Carlos nodded and left the room.

"Is that necessary?" Dawn scoffed in disbelief.

She shouldn't have any sympathy for that Witch.

I walked closer to her. I made my voice soft. "Dawn, I cannot have a Witch on the loose, especially Sasha, given her history. This has to happen."

She nodded in understanding.

~Dominique